COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Von Miller made his return to Kyle Field recently sporting a hurt-your-eyes, neon-green T-shirt and matching trendy new Nike high-tops that he’d picked up in New York.

But it was the shiny new Aggie ring that the quarterback-harassing Texas A&M linebacker — and soon-to-be top-5 NFL draft pick — constantly twisted on and off his finger that stood out most.

“The biggest part of anything is I got my Aggie ring,” said Miller, of DeSoto. “It was extremely emotional. I worked extremely hard for this, and now I have something to show for it.”

To Miller, the ring represents why he’s in his dream position heading into Thursday’s NFL draft. That’s why he made sure to get down to College Station for the team banquet, despite squeezing it into a heady schedule of visiting six NFL teams, from San Francisco to Buffalo.

All of the teams hold a top-10 pick.

Miller will be in attendance at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, along with his parents, younger brother, Vins, and A&M coach Mike Sherman. Most projections have the Bills picking Miller at No. 3. The last Aggie to go in the top 10 was defensive lineman Sam Adams, the No. 8 pick in 1994. Miller could be the highest-drafted A&M player since linebacker Quentin Coryatt went No. 2 in 1992.

Since he left the Aggies after the Cotton Bowl in January, Miller has dazzled NFL decision-makers but also opened himself to scrutiny by joining the NFL players’ antitrust lawsuit against the NFL to end the lockout.

Miller’s also signed a deal with adidas and has more than 7,000 followers on Twitter (@MillerLite40).

But he professed normalcy during his recent visit to Aggieland. The engaging, self-professed “people person” posed for pictures during the spring game, an Aggie hero for helping resuscitate A&M football his senior year. He did the traditional dunking of his new Aggie ring at a friend’s place — guzzling a sports drink instead of the usual pitcher of beer.

Thursday, he’ll be wearing the ring when he celebrates hearing his name called and shakes commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand.

“Since Day One,” Miller said, “I’ve always wanted to play in the National Football League.”

Close to leaving

Miller’s path to the NFL came close to veering from College Station. Sherman took over at A&M after Miller’s first season and cracked down. After Miller missed study halls and class, Sherman suspended him for the spring game.

“That was probably the best thing that ever happened,” Miller said. “He was like, ‘You can transfer if you want. I’ll sign your papers, anywhere you want to go.’”

Miller threw his stuff into the back of his 1981 Silverado and started cruising toward home. He’d gotten about 45 minutes down Highway 6 when his father, who is also named Von, gave him an order over the phone: “Turn around.”

Miller’s transformation took time, Sherman said, but all parties point to that day as a broader turning point.

“Things might have turned out differently — for both of us,” Sherman said. “I credit his dad. … He was just being a kid. … I was trying to start a program, and I’m probably harder on the star players. I just didn’t want to see him waste his talent academically or athletically. It got his attention.”

Miller led the nation with 17 sacks his junior season. He earned the Butkus Award his senior season as the nation’s best linebacker. He said he is about 10 credits shy of a university studies degree — which includes a minor in poultry science. He said he has a genuine interest in raising chickens one day.

“Chickens are recession proof,” Miller explained.

The Miller family calls Sherman “Big Daddy,” though others do so at their own peril. The Miller family has asked Sherman, a former NFL coach, for advice, including holding a meeting at the family home after the Cotton Bowl to discuss what to look for in an agent.

The lawsuit

One of the decisions Sherman did not weigh in on was Miller’s widely publicized move of adding his name to the lawsuit against the NFL.

Miller said he talked to several NFL players to understand the labor situation, including Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson during Super Bowl week.

Discussions ensued after the Millers were approached about adding Von’s name as the only incoming rookie. Andrew Kessler, an agent with Miller’s agency, Athletes First, is the son of NFL Players Association outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler.

“The most important thing in the whole process is Von,” said Miller’s father. “Knowing my son, he’s not afraid of a challenge. He’s always been an Us Guy.”

Miller said he’s been reassured by teams that joining the suit will not be held against him. Sherman said Miller just wanted to help when asked.

“He looks at Peyton Manning and Tom Brady with the utmost respect,” Sherman said. “He figures if they have their name on it, I don’t mind having my name on it.”

Sherman said he is thrilled Miller is going to the draft despite the suit, since the lockout will eventually be resolved and attending the draft has been a lifelong dream.

Getting his start

Miller started playing football in fifth grade, though his mother, Gloria, had to hide it for a time from his father, who had suffered knee injuries playing youth football in Gladewater and wanted Von to be physically ready.

“Once I saw how much fun he was having, I couldn’t take it away,” the elder Miller said.

Miller, who grew up a diehard Cowboys fan, said he appreciates his upbringing. His father owns a business that sells and services batteries and backup power systems.

“We’ve always had anything we wanted — well, we wanted a go-kart and didn’t have one,” Miller said. “But as far as the necessities. We always had loving parents.”

Money won’t go to Miller’s head, his father said, because he still has people in his life to tell him “No.”

Miller came up with a tight group of friends, including DeSoto’s Cyrus Gray, Garrick Williams and Tony Jerod-Eddie, who all play football at A&M.

Miller always displayed talent. In high school, “he became almost unblockable,” said former DeSoto coach Dave Meadows, who added that Miller had snake-like moves in his ability to bend around linemen.

One physical deficiency: Miller has always had awful eye sight, wearing glasses and contacts from a young age. The thick frames he’s worn off the field in recent years always gave him a distinctive look.

Miller, who has been based in Dallas and works out at the Michael Johnson Performance Center, said he’s happy to leave A&M with the program seemingly poised for a blockbuster season. Though his sack total dropped his senior season, he overcame an early ankle injury to show a more all-around game. His role shifted throughout college, playing under three defensive coordinators.

“His best years are still ahead of him,” Sherman said. “Once he’s in the same scheme he’s going to continue to blossom, and that’s what I’ve told the NFL people.

“The biggest thing this season was his fanatical effort play after play. That’s the maturity … that you need to have to make the next level. … He was more engaged in football and the whole picture than ever before.”

The big picture, of course, always included ending up in the NFL. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Miller focused on staying even-keeled. But as it’s neared, reality is setting in.

Notable: Wowed during the Senior Bowl and at the NFL combine. … Miller totaled 271/2 sacks over his junior and senior seasons. … 2010 Butkus Award winner. … Known for his burst and speed off the edge in his pass rush. … Likes to hunt and fish; recently took up golf. … Grew up in a home with a game room full of Cowboys memorabilia.

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